Gemotions

He’d left the manuscript open on the kitchen table. Liam had never been one for tidiness. It should have been a red flag, but she was too caught up in the crossword. Now, staring at the pages, she felt a tightening in her chest. His words, about her, were stark, brutally honest. It was like looking into a distorted mirror, reflecting back flaws she'd tried to hide.

The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, mocking her. She ran a hand over her face, feeling the prickle of sweat. She wasn't angry, not yet. More...alert. She reached for the pages, her fingers tracing the words as if they were a map to his secret thoughts.

He walked in and she quickly closed the book. “What are you reading?” he asked casually, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "Just a random book," she said. He did not seem to believe her.